Do you hunger and thirst for righteousness?
Have you ever been really hungry or really thirsty? Why does that happen? Well, it’s because your body is telling you you need to eat or drink something. Hunger and thirst tell us there’s something we need that we don’t have. You can be hungry and thirsty for food and something to drink, or it can be a hunger and thirst for companionship or finding a deeper meaning in life or —even being hungry and thirsty for a better relationship with God. Jesus said we’ll be blessed when we hunger and thirst for righteousness, when we realize the need in our lives for things of the Spirit.
When you’re hungry and thirsty for the things of God, Jesus says you will be filled. What could be more satisfying or more rewarding? And when you switch your focus from chasing after people, places, and things to satisfy you, you’ll find freedom from the guilt and sins of the past and discover who you are as a child of God.
In this Freedom Friday series, I’ve talked mostly about finding freedom from sin, guilt, and shame, but today we’re going to focus on some of the steps you can take to find freedom to be who you really are as a child of God.
The need to hunger and thirst for righteousness
When you eat something, it satisfies you. When you drink something, it quenches your thirst. You’re filled, so you’re not hungry or thirsty anymore. But eating good food and drinking something will not satisfy all your needs.
We try to find fulfillment and satisfaction from people, places, and things, always staying busy. Maybe it’s scrolling on social media. But none of those things will ever satisfy that deep hunger and thirst in your heart for spiritual meaning and connection. God is the only one who can satisfy your deep inner spiritual hunger and thirst.
What if you think you don’t need spirituality in your life? What if you don’t feel any hunger or thirst for righteousness, for the things of the Spirit, the things of God?
Okay, so you’re being honest with yourself.
Go ahead and pursue these material things, and you may get some immediate satisfaction or gratification from that piece of chocolate cake, scrolling for two hours on social media, reading some trashy romance novels, or staying so busy that you never have time to face your deep inner needs.
But none of these outward things or activities will ever satisfy and fill the void that only God can.
Take the first step
The first step you need to take is to realize that all these other things can never satisfy your real hunger for meaning and connection. The next step is to admit you have a need for a spiritual dimension in your life. Now, you may already realize that, but some people don’t. And then you have to walk in the direction toward a more spiritual approach to life.
Now, the world is going to tell you that more and better material things will satisfy your hunger for meaning and purpose, but they never will, or not for long. They never can. Whatever satisfaction they give is temporary.
Have you ever had a craving for something, a particular food or product? You wanted it so bad you’d do anything to get it, and then when you got it, the joy and happiness it gave didn’t last very long.
What if you had that deep hunger and craving to learn about and experience God’s love for you. Then when you got a taste of that love, you’d want more.
The difference is God’s love satisfies you on a very deep spiritual level, and the joy that comes from that love doesn’t disappear or diminish over time, but it actually grows.
You can choose to hunger and thirst for righteousness
You can make a conscious choice to hunger and thirst for righteousness, for spirituality, for God’s love. No one can do it for you, and you really can’t even do it all by yourself. God is with you to guide you each step of the way.
The more you accept the overflowing love and goodness God is giving you today, you will be hungry for more. The things that used to give you pleasure and fulfillment will seem more like sawdust—dry, unappetizing, and unable to nourish your real needs and desires.
The more you hunger and thirst for righteousness, for spiritual things, for things from God, the more you’ll find freedom from sin, the more you’ll find freedom from guilt and shame because of things that happened in the past, and the more you’ll find freedom to be who you really are as a child of God.
If Jesus promised you something, do you think he would keep his promise? Of course! This is Jesus’ promise:
Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled. Matthew 5:6 NIV
That means every time you hunger and thirst for righteousness, for things from God, you will be filled with great blessings from God’s abundant love for you, and you will be satisfied and free.
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James Early, the Jesus Mindset Coach, is a Bible teacher, speaker, and church mentor. He conducts Bible workshops online and in person. His focus is on getting back to the original Christianity of Jesus by learning to think, pray, and love like Jesus. Contact him here.
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Bible References
Matthew 5:6 NIV
16 Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.
